The Vancouver Canucks made a depth-focused move on Tuesday, with Vancouver Canucks General Manager Ryan Johnson announcing that Aatu Räty has been traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr.
For the Canucks, the trade brings in two young forwards who have each taken different paths to the professional level. Quillan already had NHL and AHL experience before the move, while Buhr reached the organization more recently after a brief start in the AHL.
What the Canucks are getting
Quillan signed an entry-level contract with Toronto on April 1, 2024. Before the trade, he had appeared in 24 career NHL games, producing three points and two penalty minutes. He also had 114 career AHL games with 74 points and 65 penalty minutes, plus nine points in 24 career AHL playoff games. That mix of regular-season and playoff experience gives Vancouver another option with some pro mileage already on his resume.
Buhr signed an entry-level contract with Toronto on March 18, 2026. At the conclusion of the 2025.26 season, he had played five games with the Toronto Marlies and registered two points. His path also includes NCAA experience, giving the Canucks another young forward to develop as they continue to evaluate their depth.
Why it matters
Johnson framed the deal as a way to improve the Canucks' depth while giving the club two new players to work with. He said the team wanted to thank Räty for what he had done for the organization and wished him well in Toronto.
In practical terms, this is the kind of transaction that can matter over time more than it does immediately. The Canucks are not only changing one roster piece for two, but also adding different types of forward depth as they look ahead. For Toronto, the move brings Räty into the organization and gives the Maple Leafs another young player to evaluate.
It is a straightforward hockey trade with a clear roster message from Vancouver: the Canucks are still looking for ways to improve their overall depth, and this deal gives them a pair of 24-year-old forwards to do it.
